Highlights from the Literary World: September 28 – October 3, 2026

In Lit Hub Politics, an article discusses why Thomas McGuane is considered a significant literary figure in the Trump Era, emphasizing his commitment to his vision akin to that of his characters. Jason Bell provides a historical account of a covert mission that played a crucial role in the Allies' victory in World War II in Lit Hub History.

Lit Hub Criticism explores the meanings behind notable lines from literary icons like Gertrude Stein, T. S. Eliot, and Joan Didion. In a piece on witchcraft, Marion Gibson delves into the truth behind the witchcraft panic in 17th-century England, featured in Lit Hub Religion.

Lincoln Michel reflects on the joys of reading Cervantes' Don Quixote in 2026, suggesting that literature serves to encourage playfulness. In a different perspective, NPR reports that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s ethics filing discloses substantial payments from Skyhorse Publishing. The Los Angeles Review of Books questions humanity's fascination with dinosaur narratives.

A group of writers, including Claire Messud, Amitava Kumar, Katie Kitamura, and Alexander Chee, has signed an open letter protesting the sudden termination of Leah Stewart, the director of the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Maya Man examines Mark Fisher’s theories in the context of Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields music festival, while Mahika Dhar analyzes the chaotic trend of brainrot in Public Books.

Patrick Redford revisits the intriguing tale of the low-stakes con artist known as the Spine Collector in Defector. Jacobin discusses the connection between declining literacy rates and democratic erosion.

Bartolomeo Sala reports from the first academic conference dedicated to Umberto Eco since his death. Becca Rothfeld shares insights from the Pro-Human Assembly, highlighting recurring philosophical questions raised by AI skeptics. Chris Kraus, Ben Eastham, and Elvia Wilk discuss the dual roles of critics and fiction writers in Cultured.

Sarah Schulman reviews Amy Littlefield’s Killers of Roe and analyzes the ongoing struggle for abortion rights in America. Josh Lambert and Dan Sinykin critically assess PEN America’s claims regarding antisemitism in publishing. Vulture reports that the $1.5 billion settlement with Anthropic is welcomed by publishers but not by writers.

Gavin Francis reviews three recent books on male bodybuilding, exploring media dynamics.

Additional features on Lit Hub include discussions on ghosts, class issues in Angela Flournoy’s The Wilderness, and reflections on Ernest Shackleton's expedition. Hernan Diaz elucidates the non-dystopian aspects of his new novel, while Nina Schuyler addresses themes of rivers and nature rights. The month also showcases notable poetry, children’s book recommendations, and critiques of media narratives surrounding conflicts like the Iraq invasion and the Gaza genocide.